Our People
Race Action Review: Creating a more diverse workplace
It is widely accepted the legal profession faces a major challenge in encouraging people into the sector from different racial and minority ethnic backgrounds. Statistics show1 that black and other minority ethnic groups spend on average 20% less time in their respective law firm, compared to their white counterparts and at large UK firms with 10 or more partners — only 1% of partners are black.
1Rare Recruitment, ‘Closing the ethnicity stay gap’, 2020 and Extense: The 1% Study, 2022
In June 2020 the Firm made a commitment to better understand its diversity and inclusion through the lens of race and ethnicity.
At the start of 2021 we launched our Race Action Review to find out how we, as a business, are performing in this regard and to understand how we can equip the Firm for change. We engaged an external consultancy firm, Lumorus, to host a series of ‘Inclusion Labs’, providing a safe space for people to talk about their experiences and to learn from each other. It also undertook a review of our policies and processes, engaged with our suppliers and ran a cultural survey across our UK offices.
“Following completion of the review in 2022, the FFG will take the findings of the review, produce an action plan and start to implement the recommendations,” explains our D&I Partner for Race Equality, Rebecca Burford. “The focus will be on action – the practical, concrete, measurable steps we intend to take to drive improvements in black and minority ethnic representation and inclusion across our business.”
10,000 Black Interns Programme
One of those positive steps to attract more diverse talent is the 10,000 Black Interns Programme. The Programme offers paid work experience to young black people in the UK. We signed up to the Programme and committed to supporting a minimum of two interns each summer over the next five years. This summer we hosted three interns at our London office for six weeks.
We are delighted that following participation in the 2022 Programme one of our Interns has accepted a training contract with the Firm and we look forward to welcoming them as a future trainee.
The 10,000 Black Interns Programme has received outstanding feedback and is a great opportunity for black talent to experience different careers firsthand. Our Interns share their insights below to encourage their peers to apply and other organisations to participate. There are currently 22 different sectors represented on the Programme.
Greater awareness and education
Our Religion, Belief and Ethnicity Network also hosted a number of successful awareness events over the last 12 months celebrating important religious and cultural events, such as Diwali, Black History Month and Eid. An Eid lunch in the canteen of the London office was well attended by colleagues and the event was also celebrated in our other UK offices with traditional food and decorations. Imran Chowdhury, Senior Compliance and Risk Analyst and Co-Chair of the Religion, Belief and Ethnicity Network, says the group intends to introduce more initiatives for colleagues such as ‘lunch and learn’ sessions. “The aim is to spread awareness, educate, improve visual representation in the Firm and take some little steps that will have a big impact,” says Imran. “Hopefully, it will also support client engagement as well.”
Meenakkhi Bhattacharyya, Associate in the Private Client – Tax, Trusts & Succession team who Co-Chairs the Network, says she is excited about the future for the Network, which has seen its membership grow over the last 12 months.
“I would like to be able to help the Firm build on its reputation for being inclusive and to show that there are people within our Firm that can be — and already are — role models for people from a variety of backgrounds,” says Meenakkhi.
Alumni • Legal Notices • Accessibility • Privacy Notice • Fraudulent or 'scam' communication • Complaints Procedure • COVID Secure Certification • Pricing Information
© Charles Russell Speechlys 2022. Solicitors Regulation Authority number 420625.